Gardening With Toddlers and Preschoolers

Help your child learn where food comes from by planting a garden. Even a little patch of dirt outside can turn into his "farm." If it's winter or you livein a city, make an indoor garden on a counter near the window.

Planting the SeedPlant radishes, bush beans, and lettuce: They all grow quickly, so your child will be able to see the fruits of his labor in short order. Help your childplant, water, and harvest his crops. Be sure to celebrate when you're done! If you can, take your child to visit a real farm to watch the planting or theharvest.

An Opportunity to LearnAll of this teaches your child about consistent care and gives him responsibility, both of which are more important than the actual crops themselves. Don'texpect too much from him at this age, though — he’ll need all the help he can get!